B urglar -P roof Y our N ew H ome ESSENTIAL SECURITY STEPS FOR YOUR NEW LIVING SPACE
LIGHT IT UP. One of the best ways to deter criminals from entering your home is by turning up or turning on the lights on your property. Focus on lighting up areas in your front and backyards, near entrances and windows, to keep intruders out. To save energy and money, opt for solar-powered lighting or set up your outdoor lights on a timer. PROTECT YOUR WI-FI. In today’s digital world, hackers can access many of your family’s private details through your home Wi-Fi network. Keep your network protected with a strong password and encryption. Most routers come installed with a firewall to protect you against viruses or malware. You can find out if you have a firewall activated by checking your router settings.
STRENGTHEN THE DOORS AND WINDOWS. Check all the doors for functioning hinges, strong door frames, or loose screws. Some easy ways to reinforce the door are installing a deadbolt or a smart lock. You can also remove the screws currently in your deadbolt and replace them with longer, thicker screws that will go into the studs and strengthen it. If you are renting or moving into a previously occupied home, it’s wise to get new keys and locks. Sliding doors are a common entry point for burglars; place a dowel in the track for an inexpensive way to reinforce the door. As for windows, check that all closures and locks function properly; the dowel works as reinforcement in sliding window tracks, too.
Moving into a new home or apartment can be one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. With all the decorating and unpacking, it can be easy to overlook the importance of securing your home and adding extra safety measures. According to FBI data, in the United States, burglars strike homes about every 30 seconds. So, make these DIY security tips one of the first things on your move-in checklist. CONSIDER A SECURITY SYSTEM. First, your new space should have a security system to monitor your home. Many options are available, including do-it-yourself setups. It’s a good idea to contact your local law enforcement department, which can provide area crime statistics and sometimes even complete a home security evaluation.
G eorgia ’ s C hild S upport L aws G et a M akeover W ith N ew B ills STAY INFORMED! For starters, the definition of custodial parent has changed. It now refers to the parent with whom the child resides for more than 50% of the time, or if the child resides with both parents equally, the custodial parent is the one who earns less gross income. The court will designate the custodial parent if the parents make the same gross income. Additionally, child support payments have been altered depending on income. Those in the lowest income levels will pay a lower child support payment, while those in the higher level will pay more. The high-income threshold has been raised to $40,000 per month. This bill also introduced a new basic child support obligation table that will go into effect at the beginning of July. The new parenting time and low-income provisions won’t go into effect until January 2026. House Bill 499 will allow a court to require a parent to continue supporting a disabled child after they’ve turned 18 years old. This bill aims to ensure that both parents continue to support their children. The bill defines a disabled child as “an unmarried individual who has reached the age of majority and is incapable of self-support as a result of a physical or mental incapacity that began before the individual reached the age of majority.” This bill goes into effect on July 1, 2024.
Staying on top of new legal developments that could affect you is crucial in avoiding potential trouble. However, most bills are written using legal verbiage that can be difficult to understand. That’s why we’re here to help. Whenever the Georgia House and Senate pass a new bill, we try to break it down so you can understand how it might affect you and your unique situation. Governor Kemp recently signed off on two new bills that affect child support, which you should know about.
Senate Bill 454 will overhaul many of the child support guidelines that were previously established.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding these bills or how they will affect your unique situation.
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